Mark AlmondAlabama defensive lineman Terrence Cody celebrates after he blocked Tennessee's attempt at a game-winning field goal Saturday. UT coach Lane Kiffin thought Alabama should have been penalized for Cody removing his helmet.

TUSCALOOSA -- SEC commissioner Mike Slive put Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin on notice Monday, issuing a second public reprimand this year and warning him of a possible suspension.

Kiffin was cited by Slive for critical comments about officiating he made in the wake of Saturday's 12-10 loss at Alabama.

"Coach Kiffin has violated the Southeastern Conference code of ethics," Slive said in a statement. "SEC Bylaw 10.5.4 clearly states that coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from all public criticism of officials.

"This is the second reprimand for Coach Kiffin in this calendar year. Coach Kiffin is on notice that any further violations of SEC policies will subject him to additional penalties, including suspension."

Slive reprimanded Kiffin in February for comments at a booster function that Florida coach Urban Meyer was breaking recruiting rules. Kiffin's claim was unfounded.

The first-year UT coach's ire this time included the fact that no penalty was called when Alabama nose tackle Terrence Cody flung off his helmet while on the field and the ball was live after Cody blocked Tennessee's attempt at a game-winning field goal.

CBS analyst Gary Danielson made reference to it during the game's live broadcast, saying "Alabama is a little bit fortunate. Cody took his helmet off in the middle of that play. That could be a penalty. That play was still going on."

"If a play's still going, you can't take your helmet off," Kiffin told reporters in Knoxville. "A guy throws his helmet as the ball's still live. He throws his helmet and then two of their guys go and recover the ball. It's a 15-yard penalty, and you kick again."

But the SEC clarified that Kiffin's interpretation of the rule was incorrect. Cody's action would have constituted a dead-ball foul, which can't be called once the clock has expired.

"The foul for taking a helmet off is a live ball foul treated as a dead-ball foul," SEC spokesman Charles Bloom explained in an e-mailed statement. "That is, if it happens on a play where time does not expire then the penalty is enforced on the following play. However, since the clock ran out on that play, then there is no next play so there is no penalty to mark off."

Kiffin's comments went beyond the game's final play, going so far as to suggest that league officials are protecting unblemished records of Florida and Alabama, teams currently ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation.

The Vols coach said referees were a reason he chose to run the clock down before attempting Daniel Lincoln's 44-yard field goal that Cody blocked.

"You run another play and you throw an interception or they throw another flag on us," Kiffin said. "I wasn't going to let the refs lose the game for us there, you know, some magical flag appear."

Tennessee was penalized 8 times for 68 yards in the game, Alabama once for 10 yards.

Kiffin added that "I'm sure we'll get one of those letters that mean nothing, that (Arkansas coach) Bobby (Petrino) got last week, but Florida and Alabama live on."

The SEC reprimanded Petrino for comments critical of officiating after Arkansas' 24-20 loss Oct. 17 at Florida. The league had previously announced a suspension of the crew that worked the Razorbacks-Gators game.

The SEC also announced Monday that Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen had been reprimanded for his comments following the Bulldogs' loss to Florida on Saturday.